Struggling With The Heat: Chelsea Residents Without Power, Watertown Firefighter Crews Fight Blaze
BOSTON (CBS) -- A transformer fire left some Chelsea residents without power amid Tuesday's extreme heat. At it's peak, about 1,800 customers were without power around 7:30 p.m., according to Eversource.
The transformer is on Chestnut Street. Utility crews worked into the night to try and restore power. As of 9:30 p.m. power was restored to all but 350 customers.
"All of a sudden I hear boom boom! I see a flashing light I thought it was my air conditioner actually. I come out and I see the wires down and then all of a sudden that caught on fire," described one man who was nearby.
Others said the timing was not ideal given the hot temperatures.
Chelsea Police said the fire also temporarily knocked out phone lines but that has since been restored.
Firefighters were also forced to work through the heat to put out a blaze on Clarendon Street in Watertown. Crews were first called to the commerial building around 5 p.m.
According to the Watertown Fire Chief, extra firefighters responded to help rotate through the man power more frequently.
The fire damaged a health center and destroyed several cars. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.